It was a conversation with Philbin that got Wake back into the building last week, but obviously things have changed.

“We’ve had some good discussions,” Philbin said. “We’ve talked. I’m entering my 10th year in the league. This isn’t a new phenomenon to me. I mean, these things happen. We’ll let the people who deal with those things work things out, but it’s not going to be a distraction to me at all.”

Thing 2: As I explained in today’s print editions of the Sun Sentinel, I believe Wake has a legitimate complaint. Yes, he’s still under contract for one more year, but teams never hesitate to terminate contracts or force pay cuts upon players when their performance tails off.

When a player outperforms his contract by as much as Wake has, I believe he’s justified in wanting to push the envelope and commit to a given market.

As I mentioned in the column, Wake was ranked No. 1 among all 3-4 outside linebackers last season (by a wide margin) in the Pro Football Focus rankings. Cross-referencing the top five with their salaries makes the case for Wake as one of the most underpaid players in the league.

Aldon Smith of the 49ers (ranked second) is still working on his rookie deal, one that included a $9 million signing bonus, but from there the pay disparity really starts to slap you in the face.

Cowboys sack master DeMarcus Ware, ranked a distant third, will earn $5 million this season. He’s midway through a six-year, $78 million deal (with $40 million guaranteed) he signed way back in 2009.

Tamba Hali, Wake’s former Penn State teammate who now stars for the Chiefs, signed a five-year, $57.5 million deal ($35 million guaranteed) last summer. Ranked fourth among 3-4 OLBs last year, Hali will earn $11.25 million this fall.

Sixth-ranked James Harrison of the Steelers is still working on a six-year, $51.2 million deal ($20 million guaranteed) he signed three years ago. And just recently, the Cowboys retained restricted free agent Anthony Spencer (ranked 10th) by paying him $8.856 million this year.

What’s that? The Dolphins are moving to a 4-3 hybrid scheme this year, so maybe those comparables no longer apply?

OK, even if Wake spends most of his time with his hand on the ground, he stands to be woefully underpaid when stacked up against the game’s top 4-3 defensive ends.

Jared Allen (Vikings) will make $11.6 million this year. He is two years from free agency on a six-year, $73.3 million lottery ticket.

Julius Peppers signed with the Bears in 2010 for $84 million over six years ($42 million guaranteed).

And the Eagles recently took care of Trent Cole ($59.3 million over six years), bringing him pretty much in line with Ravens All-Pro Terrell Suggs (halfway through a $62.5 million deal).

Wake, of course, is due to make $615,000 in base salary this year. See the problem?

“It’s definitely tough, but it’s a decision he had to make,” Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby said. “He has to look out for him and his family, and I totally understand that. I had a similar kind of situation [in Arizona] but unfortunately – well, fortunately – I got [franchise] tagged, so I was able to come in and participate. Just being out, it eats at you because you want to be out there with the fellas and you want to run around and have fun, crack jokes and just do what you love to do.”

Thing 3: Excruciating loss for the Panthers last night in New Jersey, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Devils.

Having Game 7 on home ice Thursday night should be huge for the Panthers, but there will be no series victory — the first for them in 16 years — without generating much more offense than they did Tuesday night.

Getting outshot 42-16 in a potential playoff clincher is unthinkable. No way you can blame backup goalie Scott Clemmensen (39 saves in place of the injured Jose Theodore) for this setback.

Letting the Devils spend four times as many minutes on the power play (8-2) didn’t help either.

Comments (1 Comment)

It’s the same old player vs team thing. I get it, teams can cut players and all that.
My reservation is that Wake had one great year and one good year. If he wants a long term deal now, it should be for a good player. If he shows hes a 14 sack player, that’s when you can talk about getting paid like one.

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About the author

MIKE BERARDINO is still living the dream he first hatched as a young boy growing up in South Florida in the ‘70s and ‘80s. He’s writing about sports for a living. Best of all, he’s doing it in a now-crowded South Florida sports landscape teeming with talent, passion and, yes, sometimes even controversy. As the newest sports columnist at the Sun Sentinel, where he’s worked since February 1998, most recently as a Dolphins beat writer, Mike will draw on his many experiences over the years covering virtually every major sport and event. You name it, he’s been on the scene: World Series, Summer and Winter Olympics, Super Bowls, NBA Finals, NCAA Final Fours, BCS Championships, Wimbledon, the Masters, NASCAR Sprint Cup and on and on. Talk about living the dream. And now, with this new role and a daily blog forum for his many ideas and opinions, it just keeps getting better.